Jim O'Dell
Member
- Messages
- 2,783
- Location
- Between Aledo and Fort Worth, TX
I'm looking for some ideas on building a quick/cheap workbench. This will be built in to the alcove in the shop between my cyclone closet, and the wall to the finishing room. Since it will not be a fine woodworking bench with stock and tail vices (hopefully that will happen in the future, maybe doubling as my outfeed/assembly bench), I won't be building the typical beautiful woodworking bench. This is where I'll have my 2 Snap-On wall boxes with hand tools mounted. This area is for building small things, or working on non-woodworking stuff, from rebuilding a lawn mower engine, to hand drilling, to radio pre-installation assembly, etc. I will have my small shop vice mounted on top, probably on the left end.
My initial thoughts were to use MDF doubled up for the bench top. But the more I think about drilling into it, the more I think I should use something else...maybe 2X4's on edge? Maybe use a 1/4" masonite sacrificial top on top of that? The back outside legs will be some doubled up 2X6s with 1/2" OSB between them that are left over cutoffs from some headers. The front legs will be 4X4 Douglas Fir. I will put in 2 middle legs of 2X4s doubled up or some more 4X4 DF. Each of the legs will have heavy duty adustable feet mounted to them to level the bench. I may also secure the bench to the walls, once leveled...haven't decided on that yet. I'll use 2X6 for top stretchers. Will I need bottom stretchers? or will built in shelving between the legs serve for this purpose? I guess i could put stretchers on the insides of the legs to use in holding the shelving material in place, with come cross braces so the shelving doesn't sag.
Thanks for your ideas! Jim.
My initial thoughts were to use MDF doubled up for the bench top. But the more I think about drilling into it, the more I think I should use something else...maybe 2X4's on edge? Maybe use a 1/4" masonite sacrificial top on top of that? The back outside legs will be some doubled up 2X6s with 1/2" OSB between them that are left over cutoffs from some headers. The front legs will be 4X4 Douglas Fir. I will put in 2 middle legs of 2X4s doubled up or some more 4X4 DF. Each of the legs will have heavy duty adustable feet mounted to them to level the bench. I may also secure the bench to the walls, once leveled...haven't decided on that yet. I'll use 2X6 for top stretchers. Will I need bottom stretchers? or will built in shelving between the legs serve for this purpose? I guess i could put stretchers on the insides of the legs to use in holding the shelving material in place, with come cross braces so the shelving doesn't sag.
Thanks for your ideas! Jim.